CAPE TOWN - ANC Women's League President Bathabile Dlamini says men in politics are sending the wrong message about women.

In a frank open letter published on the Daily Maverick, Dlamini says when men in the ANC are complicit or active in oppressing women, it becomes difficult to implement policies or change broader attitudes about women.

The candid assessment comes just a few weeks after a 20-year-old woman opened a case of sexual assault against the ANC's leader in the Western Cape, Marius Fransman.

Dlamini, who is Minister of Social Development, has addressed an open letter to all men in leadership positions including in business and politics.

She says she wants to deal with the "stubborn issue of patriarchy, power and the oppression of women in society."

Dlamini asks how it's possible to change attitudes when men within her own party continue to hold the view that they are entitled to be in top leadership positions in the ANC and in government.

She goes on to question how change is possible when men in the ANC feel entitled to have sex with women who are vulnerable due to their age or employment status.

Dlamini does not mention names, but under her leadership the Women's League has pledged to support the 20-year-old woman who has laid a sexual assault complaint against Fransman.

It's alleged he made a move on his personal assistant while they were travelling to the North West province to attend the ANC's 104th birthday celebrations.